Convertible traveling case and baby bed



May 30, 1939. s. B. HAWKINS CONVERTIBLE TRAVELING CASE AND BABY BED Filed April 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4V) llllllllllllllllhmufi 601-0 5. Haw/ 177s y 1939. s. B. HAWKINS 2,160,069

CONVERTIBLE TRAVELING CASE AND BABY BED Filed April 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I? Z8 F i 6 6 I} /o k H g 1 H I I I: 1 r 36 r 1- i f E i INVENTOR E 1 E 5 6 0/0 5. Hawkins by 29 WI ATTORNEYS Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE. TRAVELING CASE AND BABY BED 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a traveling case adapted to be readily converted into a baby bed or bassinet.

My object is tosodesign alight and comparatively inexpensive type of traveling case which is so assembled and equipped that its component parts can be rearranged toform a baby bed mounted on suitable leg supports preferably equipped with caster rollers. It is a feature of myinvention that the case is equipped-with light demountable inside liners carrying the inside quilted padding for the bed sides and also the pocket flaps for holding various supplies and clothes for a baby. A further feature is that the pocket flaps are adapted to be folded down into the bed proper when the parts are assembled as a traveling case, but when converted to a bed these flaps hang from a side and both ends of the bed so that the pockets are all conveniently, accessible.

My invention further contemplates that the pad and pocket elements shall be readily demountable from their supporting liner to the end that they may be cleaned or washed and replaced.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction and arrangements of parts which, in their preferred. embodiment only, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings; in which:-

Fig. l is an enlarged perspective view showing the traveling case assembled in bed form.

Fig. 2 is a. perspective view illustrating the elements of my device assembled in traveling case form.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of corner stacking irons and a spring latch to hold the bottom of the case, when used as a bed, interlocked with the top of the case, when serving as a bed support.

4 is a bottom view of the case top showing some of its folding leg supports partly opened out.

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross sectional View taken through the bed as shown in Fig. 1 with the drawer omitted.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 1, showing the drawer closed and all but one of the pocket flaps folded down into the bed.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view in cross section showing the clasp means for attaching a liner to the suit case, and illustrating how to bed pad and pocket flap are attached to a liner.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I show a traveling case which to all appearance is conventional when assembled, as shown in Fig. 2, such case comprising a bottom or body member l0 and a top member ll, each equipped with suitable corner irons l2 adapted for stacking as shown in Fig. 3.

The case has the usual handle l3 and any suitable lock members M. In addition the top It is provided with a drawer l5 having a suitable lock it: and mounted to slide on grooved runways I! (Fig. 5) which extend the full width of the case. It will be observed, however, that the drawer stops short of the ends of the top I I, thereby providing two end compartments l8 in each of which is hingedly mounteda pair of folding legs [9 having any suitable latch devices for locking them in open position. and braced if desired in any manner to afford a stout support for the bed. These legs are preferably equipped with caster rollers 2i and are of the lightest possible construction. The top I I has latch elements 2-2 complemental to the lock members 14 on the case body ll]. By this means the top can be entirely removed from I the bottom but it will be understood that any suitable connections to make provision for this detachment is Within the contemplation of my invention.

The interior of the body ID has the normal suit 5 case finish, except that I provide along the inside of the casing walls a series of female clasp members 23, arranged as ShOWIklTlOIE clearly in Fig. 5

close together along the upper portion but only one or two are used along the lower portion of each body side. Light liners 24 of fabric-lined cardboard or the like are shaped to fit the inside walls of the body Iii under the top reinforcing trim member 25, formally illustrated in Fig. '7, it

being understood that this trim Will be built into the body portion in accordance with the existing suit case construction practice.

Each liner is equipped with complementalclasp members 26, thus enabling it to be snap clasped into position in the case and to be readily removed. Before a liner is mounted in the case I connect to it, in any suitable manner that will provide a detachable connection, a quilted pad 21 for a side or end of the bed. Light quilted silk padding is used to make the body l0 safe and atractiye as an infant bed or bassinet. I also in like manner, and preferably by the same means, detachably connect to each liner for the ends and back of the bed a pocket flap 2B or 29 which will be later described.

As shown in Fig. 7, I use a lacing 30, woven through suitable eyelets provided in an end of the pocket flaps 28 or 29 and in the flap 3| formed at the upper edge of each quilted pad 27. The flap edges thus secured to the outside face of the liners will be concealed when the liners are snap clasped in position in the bed body.

The pocket flap 29 is made fast at the front edge of each end of the case body Ill and extends approximately half way the length of the case. To this flap, at spaced intervals, are sewn pocket forming fabric pieces 32, 33, 34 and 35, which may be in one piece or separate pieces as desired, and each top piece 34 has its free edge equipped with snap clasps 36 adapted to engage complemental clasp members carried by the flap 29. By unclasping its cover flap 34 a pocket can be opened and filled with, or give access to, various garments and supplies suitable to be carried therein. The two pockets on each end pocket flap are similarly constructed and applied to the fiap 29 and the method of attachment will hold the pockets distended as shown, thereby providing four fairly commodious separate flexible compartments into which various garments can be stored.

The back pocket flap 28 extends the full length of the body and may form one deep and commodious pocket 43 or it may be subdivided by a partition 31, see Fig. 6, which serves to brace the pocket walls together at the center and prevent a sagging tendency. The top member of this pocket is snap clasped to the flap 28 just like the top members of the side pockets are clasped to the flaps 29.

A suitable pad or light mattress 38 is fitted into the body 10 so as to hold the quilting pads 21 in position and afford a comfortable bed for the baby to lie on.

When the parts are assembled to form a traveling case, the end pocket flaps 29 are folded up, over and downwardly into the bed body Ill, one being shown so folded in Fig. 6, while the other is shown hanging outside ready to be folded over and down upon the mattress 38. The fiap 28 carrying the large back pocket 43, is also folded over down into the bed and it will thus be seen that the three pocket elements substantially occupy the interior of the bed space, leaving room, however, for the bedding and perhaps other garments to be folded and placed upon them. The top H is then inverted, its legs folded up, and it is engaged and interlocked with the lock fastenings M to the front and back of the body it. When the drawer i '5 is closed and locked the case then has the appearance of Fig. 2 and needs be no larger than a commercial traveling case, such as can be readily carried in the back of a car or placed under a railway car seat or steamer berth.

When it is desired to convert the traveling case into a bed, the top I l is detached from the bottom ID; the legs l9 are pulled down and braced in. open position; the bottom is then stacked on the top as a base and interlocked therewith by any suitable means, such as the stacking corner irons [2, 12a, supplemented, if desired, by spring arms 40 carrying latch pins 4|, Fig. 3, which pass through aligning apertures in the complemental stacking members of the corner irons. The pocket flaps 28 and 29 are then thrown outwardly and allowed to hang down as shown in Fig. 1 and the bed is ready to be made up for the child. The use of caster rollers on the legs enables the bed to be pushed around with ease. The top of the body is provided at its corners with suitable holes 42 to receive demountable supports for a mosquito net, not shown.

When it is desired to clean the pad quilting 21, or any of the pocket flaps, it is only necessary to unclasp the appropriate, liner 24, loosen the lacing 3B and slip off the flap and pad, and after it has been cleaned it can be as easily replaced on the liner, and remounted in the case.

When the bed is set up in operating position, the drawer i is available for carrying the various toilet articles and is in convenient position for use. When it is no longer desired to use the case as a bed, it is only necessary to unsnap and detach the liners thereby removing everything except the drawer I 5 to distinguish the case from other traveling cases. If desired, suitable hinges may then replace the back locks M.

It is understood that the bed is best adapted for the use of an infant, but detachable rails could be engaged in the holes 42 if desired for greater safety.

The changes required to make a traveling case convertible for the purposes of my invention are comparatively small so that the article can be made available to the market at but a slight increase in cost over the price of corresponding standard traveling cases.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A combination baby bed and traveling case comprising a body portion and a lid detachable from the body portion, legs hingedly mounted in the lid portion to fold inwardly across the ends thereof leaving the intermediate portion of the interior of the lid free, interfitting means on the outer corners of the lid and the body portion adapted to hold the lid and body in inverted positions to form a bed, and latch means included in the interfitting means.

2. A combination baby bed and traveling case comprising a body portion and a lid detachable from the body portion, legs hingedly mounted in the lid portion to fold inwardly across the ends thereof leaving the intermediate portion of the interior of the lid free, a drawer mounted to slide inwardly of the lid intermediate the infolded legs, interfitting means on the outer corners of the lid and the body portion adapted to hold the lid and body in inverted positions to form a bed, and latch means included in the interfitting means.

SARA B. HAWKINS. 

